Hockey stick



J. B. COLES HOCKEY STI-CK July 29, 1969 Filed Nov. 1. 1966 IIIIII'IIII W2 mm F INVENTOR JOHN B. COLES LL, I "4w ATTORNEYS United States Patent F3,458,194 HOCKEY STICK John B. Coles, Cooksville, Ontario, Canada,assignor to American Velcro, Inc, a corporation of New Hampshire FiledNov. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,145 Int. Cl. A63b 59/14 US. Cl. 273-67 3Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A hockey stick which includes acovering on the blade with a dense rough surface of stiff monofilamentsfor improved maneuverability of a hockey puck.

This invention relates to an improved hockey stick and more particularlyit relates to a hockey stick in which the blade is provided with a densesurface of closely spaced outwardly protruding uniform height stubelements for improving maneuverability of a hockey puck.

The well-known hockey stick construction consists of an elongated bladeforming an obtuse angle with an extended handle portion, all made ofwood, usually hickory. During each hockey game a professional hockeyplayer will wear the blade portion of the hockey stick approximately A".For this reason, it is common to tape or to reinforce the blade withfiber glass. Each of these solutions, however, still leaves the bladewith relatively smooth surfaces, requiring a high degree of skill tocontrol and accurately deflect a rapidly moving puck. Moreover, when thepuck strikes the blade at an acute angle while moving at a highvelocity, the friction between the puck and blade necessary to give theplayer control is broken down, the puck is uncontrollably deflected.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means in ahockey stick for strengthening the blade and improving itsmaneuverability by increasing the friction between the puck and theblade to give the player increased control over the puck. i

Broadly stated, this invention is an improvement in hockey sticks whichhave a handle portion and an integral blade portion forming an obtuseangle with the handle. The improvement comprises a means for improvingmaneuverability of a hockey puck by providing a covering on the bladewhich has a dense rough surface of closely spaced outwardly protrudingstub elements. Preferably the stub elements are sheared stiif nylonmonofilament of uniform height in tape form which are helically wound onthe blade and adhesively secured thereto.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of myinvention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey stick having a blade surface inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blade taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 3 showing a blade covered in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a hockey stick with part of the handle brokenaway showing the blade wrapped with stubble tape.

FIG. 1 shows generally a hockey stick having a handle 11 and a blade 12.The blade 12 is integral with the handle 11 forming an obtuse angleconforming to the users preference, usually about 45 degrees.

As stated above, the shaft 11 and blade 12 are nor- 3,453,194 PatentedJuly 29, 1.969

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mally made of hickory wood resulting in a somewhat frangible blade thatfrequently splits and is worn down when subjected to the rigors of agame of ice hockey. In addition, to attain a high degree of proficiencyin the art of stick handling it is necessary to exercise a great deal ofcontrol over the movements of the hard rubber puck.

In accordance with this invention, a layer of tape 13 is helically Woundabout the blade 12 of the hockey stick. The tape 13 is a pressuresensitive tape having one side defined by a plurality of closely spacedstub elements 14. Preferably the tape backing and projecting stubelements 14 are of a plastic composition to resist impregnation by waterand any resulting imbalance in the weight of the blade 12.

It is preferred to use Velcro Stubble Hook #65 (product of VelcroCorporation, 681 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.) which is the hookcomponent of Velcro touch tape fasteners such as shown in US. Patent No.2,717,437 and made by weaving 6.5 mil. monofilament nylon in the form ofraised and staggered loops and shearing the loops down to create a roughsurface of dense closely spaced stub elements of uniform heightextending outwardly and covering the tape with over 800 stub elementsper square inch.

The stubble tape 13 presents a rough surface which readily engages thepuck to give the players substantially more control over the puck thanthe conventional tapes or fiber glass used to prevent year andsplitting. Instead of a helically Wound tape, a sheet of adhesive backedstubble material could be used to encase the blade 12.

Furthermore, whereas stubble tape having a pressure sensitive adhesivebacking might be applied to hockey sticks currently in use or on themarket a precoated solvent-activated adhesive backed tape which could bewet out with, for example, methyl ethyl ketone could be applied directlyto the blade at the time of manufacture.

In use, the hockey player will be able to more easily retain possessionof the puck, employing a higher number of stick-handling tactics withoutlosing control over the puck. The stubble 14 tends to grip the puck,thereby facilitating initially-gaining control over the puck, andfurthermore, greatly helps retention of control and accuracy inshooting.

I claim:

1. In a hockey stick having a handle portion and a blade portionintegral with and forming an obtuse angle with the handle portion, theimprovement in combination therewith of means for improvingmaneuverability of a hockey puck comprising a covering on said bladehaving a dense rough surface of closely spaced outwardly protrudingstiff monofilaments of uniform height.

2. A hockey stick according to claim 1 wherein said surface is definedby tape having one surface defined by said monofilaments and helicallywound on the blade, said tape being adhesively secured thereto.

3. A hockey stick according to claim 2 wherein said monofilaments aresheared.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1939 Schmid 273-76 11/1959Gardner et al.

